Circuit-breaker.



No. 846,469. PATENTED MAR. 12, 1907.

R. E. HELLMUND.

CIRCUIT BREAKER.

APPLIGATION FILED JAILZI. 1904'.

I! Z IE! W as y M "Q21 A96 WITNESSES: IN VEN TOR excessive current.

STATES PATEN orr ron. j "lE IiUDOLF E. HELLMUND, or NE W YORK, Y.

' p y CIRCU IT-BREA KER,

Patented March 12, 1907.

. Application filed January 21, 1904. Serial No- 190,011.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUDOLFE. HELLMUN'D, residing at New York city, in thecounty and State of New York, have invented new and useful Impro vements in Circuit-Breakers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to circuit-breakers. One of the objects thereof is to provide'an automatic device whereby a circuit will be broken upon the passage therethrough of an Anotherotnect is to provide a device of the above type in. which the circuit cannot be maintained manually in'a closed'position while the circuitconditionsare such that the current strength-is above a certain-predeterminedvalueJ Y Otherobjects will be in part obvious and in partpointed out hereinafter. i

The invention accordingly consists in'the features of construction, combinations of elements,and' arrangement of arts, whichwill be hereinafter described, an the see c of the application thereof indicated in the ollowing claims. l f

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one of various possible embodi ments of niy 1nvent1on, E1gure 1 is. a planview. Fig. 2 is "a vertical cross-section on the line a: x of Fig.

Similar reference characters refer to siihilar parts throughout the several views,

Referring now to the embodiment shown in the drawings, A represents a base-plate, of insulating material, to which the current is led at points 1 and 2- IUpon this plate are mounted the contacts 3 and 4, of which in,

this embodiment there are two pairs ar-:; ranged in parallel in the circuit. A coil 5 is mounted upon the base A at a point substantially over terminal 1 and erforms the func 'tiuosof an electromagnet, or a purpose here-' ina'fter described. I The electrical connections arecomplete from terminal 1 through coil 5,

thence through connection 6, which passes through the base-plate to contacts ,3, and contacts 1 are in" electricalconnection with terminal 2.

Mounted upon base A, at a point adjacent the end thereof, is an upright s'up ort B, of insulating or other desired materla 7 of support B are provided with bearings 8, and within these bearings'is mounted a pivotbolt 9. A lever-arm 10 is adapted to swing about this bolt, and ail-insulating cross-piece 11 is secured to this lever by means of screws Wings i or other desired retaining means. At each end of cross-piece 11 is secured a circuitcornpleting member 12', which is adapted to coact with the pairs of contacts 3 and .4, respectively. Also mounted upon bolt 9 is what may be termed an operating member 13.

The term operating member, however, is

used throughout the following claims in a broad sense'to denote any device adapted to' make-connection with the circuit-completing members and place the same in operative position. -This member comprises, as shown, two side portions 13 extending parallel to each other from bolt 9, under cross-piece 11, and connected at their free ends by a cross portion 13 The side and cross portions are preferably integral, but may obviously be separable, if desired. 'Cross portion 13 is drilled and tapped,- as shown, for thereception of a threaded bolt 14, and u on this bolt is mounted an insulating-ban le 15. The side portions 13 'of operating member 13 are preferably inclined upwardly, as shown, at their outer ends, so as to place handle 15 in a position in which it may readily be grasped.

A perforated lug 16 isformed upon the free end of lever 10, and a latch 17 is pivotally. connected thereto. This latch is adapted to engage a lug- 18, formed upon one of the side. portions 13, and is normallyheld in engagement by means of a spring 19, secured to cross-piece 11 andbearing against the end of said latch above it s pivot. ful spring 20 is mounted upcn base-plate A and engages. the lower surface of lever 10, tending to raise the same, together with the operating member 13. This tendency is normallycounteracted by means of sprin pressed lu s21, mounted upon and extending throng the side portionsof member 13 and adapted to engage corresponding depressions in the surface of posts 22. These A powerposts, which are rigidly secured to base-plate androtate the same into engagement with the upper arm of latch 17.

ceases Leg 24* will per- 1 pensive construction which will break a cirmit a surficient movement .of weight 24 to cuit upon the rise of current therein beyond release latch 17, but will stop the same before it has reached a vertical position and will rest upon lug 18.

A curved spring 27 is mounted upon upright and 18 adapted to cushion thelever 10 as the same is thrown upwardly by spring 20. The lower end of this spring is curved under bolt 9 and is adapted-to engage a lug 28 upon lever 10. A similar lug 2:; upon operating member '13 projects sl ghtly farther from pivot 9 than lug 28 and is adapted upon the rais.ng of the operating member to retract the spring from engagement with lug 28.

The operation of this embodiment of my invention is as 'follows': Assuming theseveral parts to be in what may be termed operative position, as shown in the drawing, upon the rise of the current in magnet 5 beyond a certain predetermined pointthe core will be attracted with suflicient force to throw weighted arm 24 into engagement with latch 17, as is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and release the same from engagement with lug 18. As leg 24 prevents weight 24 from reaching a vertical position, it will upon the breaking of the circuit fall to the normal position shown in the drawing.

Upon the release of latch 17 lever 10 will be thrown upwardly under theinfluence of the spring 20, carrying with it the circuit-compietin'g members 12, and consequently breaking the circuit. Lug 28 will be engaged by spring 27 ,and the lever 10, with-associated parts, will be retained in an inoperative position. When it is thought the circuit conditions are safe, the operating member is raised until the-jlug 18 strikes the beveled surface of latch 17 and opens and is engaged by the same. Simultaneously with this action lug 29 presses spring 27 away from lug 28.

'The contact member and operating member are now connectedand free to be set. in normal or operative position. If, however, the

current should still be too high, the aboveof the position of the operating member.

' It will be obvious that this device may be used in any position. If used with the base A vertical, the pivoted weight 24 Will nor mally rest against-the same ,"as the axis there ofis inclined with respect to thebase, as shown. Upon displacement of the weight by means of hook26 it will fall against and release latch 17. As the operatin member is moved away from the base, the ing 18 will coact with the lower surface of leg 24 and positively return the weight to normal .position. ating member may be actuated by any other desired means.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a device of few parts and simple and inex- It will also be obvious that the opera' predetermined point and that this action Wlll occur even though the operating member should be held in position, tnereby'eliminat ing the personal equation of the attendant and guarding against his carelessness. Also the several component parts are simple and easily duplicated and may be assembled by unskllled labor. Moreover, by the peculiar construction of the releasing mechanism the momentum of the weight is utilized and a much less powerful electromagnet is required for the breaking of the circuit.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and .many apparently widely different embodiments of my invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, I intend that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is a 1. In combinatioma contact member, a latch adapted .to hold the same in circuitcompleting position, a weight mounted above and adapted to swing about a pivotal point, said weight normally resting at one side of said pivotal point, and electromagnetic means adapted to swing said weight over said pivotal point and permit the same to fall into operative relation with said latch and release said contact member.

2. In combination, a contact member, an

operating member, means connecting said contact member and said operating member adapted to hold the former in circuit-completing position, a weight mounted above and adapted to swing about a pivotal point,

said weight normally restingat one side of said pivotal point, and electromagnetic means adapted to swing said weight over said pivotal pointand permit the same to fall against said connecting means and release said contact member from connection with said operating member.

3. In combination, a contact member, a latch adapted .to hold the same in circuit completing position, a weight mounted above and adapted to swing about a pivotal point,

electromagnetic means adapted to throw said weight over said pivotal point and permit the same to fall into operative relation with said latch and release said contact member, a spring tending to throw said contact member-away from circuit-completing o'sition, and means upon said contact mem ber adapted to coact with means fixed upon said weight and return said weight to its original position.

4. In combination, a contact member, an operating member, a latch connecting said contact member and said operating member.- and adapted to hold said contact member in circuit-completing position, a spring tending to throw said contact member out of'such position, a Weight mounted above and adapt ed to swing about a pivotal point, electromagnetic "means adapted to swing said weight over ,said pivotal point and permit the same to fall against said latch and re'-. lease said contact member, and means upon said contact memberadapted to coact with means upon said weight and return said weight to its original position tact member being released.

5. In combination, a .pivotally-mounted contact member, a latch adapted to hold said contact member'in circuit-closing positlon, a spring tending -,to throw said contact' member out of such position, a weight upon said conmounted above and. adapted to swing about,

a pivotal'point, a leg in fixed relation to and adapted 'to swing with said weight, electromagnetic means adapted to throw said 1 weight over said pivotal point and permit the same to fallagai'nst and release. said latch, and means upon said contact memberadapted to coact with said leg and return said weightto its original position upon said latch being released.

6; Incombination, a pivotally -'mounted contact member, a-pivotally-mounted oper-, ating member, a latch connecting said members and adapted to hold saidcontact member in circuit-completing position, a spring tending to throw said contactmember out of such position, ,a weight mounted above and adapted tb swing about a'pivotal point, a leg in fixed relation to said weight, .said weight lease. the same, an electromagnet, a core adapted to be actuated by the same, and a hook mounted upon said core adapted to engage and operate said pivotally-mounted weight. U 8 In combination, a contact member,

"means adapted to retain said contact member in inoperative position, and a member adapted to operate said contact member and.

to render-inc erativesaid retaining means 9. In com inatlon, a contact member, a

spring adaptedto retainsaid contact memher in inoperative position, and a manually actuated member adapted to render in'opera tive said retaining-spring.

Q10. In combinatioma-contact member, a

lug upon the same, means adapted to engage said-lug and retain said contact member in inoperative position, and a manuallyactuated member. adapted to operate said contact member and to render inoperative said" retaining means. i

11, In combination, a contact member, a lug thereon, means adapted to engage said lug and retain said contact member in inop- .erative position, and a member adapted to actuate said contact member and having a adapted to render said retaining means lug inoperative. I

12. In combination, a'contact member, a

lug thereon, a spring adaptedto engage said lug and retain said contact member in inoperative position, and a member adapted to actuate said contact member and having a lug adapted to render said retaining-spring inoperative.

13.- In combination, a contact member, an operating member, a member connecting the same, and a pivotallyemounted weight adapted to engage said connection to release the same. 1

14. In combination, a contact member, an

operating member, a member connecting the same, and a pivotally-mounted currentactuated weight adapted to engage said con necting member to release the same.

15. In combination, a contact member, an operating member, a member connecting the same, a pivotally-miiunted currents actuated weight adapted to engage said connecting member to release the same, and a stop adapted to. limit the movement of said weight.

'16. In combination, a contact member, an operating member, a latch adapted to connect the same, a pivotally-mounted currentactnated weight adapted to engage said latch to release the same, and a stop adapted to limit the movement of said-Weight.

17. In combination, a contact member, an

same, automatic current-operated means adapted to releasesaid connect1on, means adapted to retain said contact member in inoperative position, and means whereby said operating member is adapted to render said retaining means inoperative.

18.- In comblnatlon, a contact member, an operating member, a connection between the same, automatic current-operated means adapted to release said connection, a spring adapted to retain said contact member in inoperative position, and means whereby said operating member is adapted to render said retaining-spring inoperative.

19. In comblnation, a plvotally-mountcd operatingmember, a connection between the contact member, 'an operating member adapted to swing about the same axis, a latch connecting said contact member and said operating member, means adapted to re- &

tain said contact member in inoperative position, and means carried by said operating member adapted to render said retaining means inoperative.

20. In combination, a pivoted contact member, an operating member adapted to swing about the same axis, a member connecting said contact member and said operating member, and automatic current-actu ated, gravity-retracted means adapted to re lease the same.

21. In combination, a pivot-ally-mounted contact member, an operating member adapted to swing about the same axis, a latch connecting said contact member and said operating member, a spring adapted to ;retain said contact member in inoperative position, .and'means carried by said operatmg member adapted to render said retainingspring inoperative.

22. In combination, a pivoted contact member, an operating member adapted to swing about the same axis, a member adapted to connect said contact memberand said operating member, automatic current-actuated, gravity-retracted means adapted to release the same, and'means adapted to retain said contact member in inoperative position.

23. In combination, acontact member, an operating member, a member adapted to connect the same, automatic current-actuated, gravity-retracted means adapted to release said connecting member, means adapted to retain said contact member in in'operative position, and means carried by said operatmg member adapted to render said retammg means inoperative.

25. In combination, acontact member, an

operating member, a connectionbetween the same, a pivotally-mounted weight adapted to release said connection,and meansv adapted to retain said contact member in inoperative position." i i 26. In combination, a contact member, an.

operating member, a connectionbetween the same, a p1votallymounted current-actuated weight adapted to releasesaid connection,

and means adapted to retain said con-tact member in inoperative position.

27 In combination, a contact member, an operating member, a connection between the same, apivotally-mounte'd, current-actuated, gravity-retracted weight adapted to release said connection, and means adapted to reto retain said contact member in inoperative position, and means carried by said operating member adapted to render said retaining-spring moperative.

30. In combination, a contact member, an operatingmember, a connection between the same, a pivotally-mounted current-actuated weight adapted to release sald connection,

means adapted to retain said contact memher in inoperative position, and means carried by said operating member adapted to render said retaining means inoperative.

31. In combination, a contact member, an operating member, a connection between the same, a pivotally-mounted current-actuated, gravity-retracted weight adapted torelease said connection, means'adapte'd to retain said contact member in. inoperative position, and means carried by said operating member adapted to render said retaining means inoperative.

32. In combination, a movable contact member, .a lug upon the same, means adapted to engage said lug and retain said contact member in inoperative position, a member adapted to render inoperative said retaining means, and means adaptedto cushion the movement of said contact member.

33. In combination, a contact member, a lugthereon, means adapted to engage said lug and retain said-contact member in inoperative position, a member adapted to actuate'said contact member and having a lug adapted to render said retaining means inop erative, and means adapted to cushion the movement of said contact member.

'34: In combination, a pivotally-mounted contact member, an operating member adapted to'swing about the same axis, a latch adapted to connect said contact member and said operating member ,means adapted'to retain said contact member in inoperative position, means carried by said operating memberadapted torenderinoperative said re lOO tainingmeans, and means adaptedto cush ion the movement of said contact member.

35. In combination, a contact member, an operating member, a connection between the same, a pivotally-mounted current-actuated weight adapted to release said connection, means adapted to retain said contact member in inoperative position, and means adapted to cushion the movement of said contact ed to cushion the movement of said contact member.

member. I I In testimony whereof I have signed my 36. In combination, a pivotally-mounted I name to this specification in the presence of contact member, 'an operating member, a two subscribing witnesses.

connection between the same, a pivotallyg mounted current-actuated,gravity-retracted l RUDOLF HELLMUND weight adapted to release said connection, i Witnesses: means adapted to retain said contact meml FRANZ Enron J UNGE,

it her in inoperative position, and means adapt- MAX COLLBOH'M. 

